Special events
Dia de los Muertos (Nov. 2)
Celebrate the dead with an all-ages festival throughout Downtown Santa Cruz, created by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art History in partnership with Senderos. Experience vibrant dance performances. Get your face painted. Indulge in delicious food. Join in on a procession to enjoy more dance, music and outdoor altars at Evergreen Cemetery. Festivities begin at 12:30 p.m. For information: santacruzmah.org.
Beyond Wonderland (Nov. 2)
A benefit gala for Community Bridges Santa Cruz and local burning man artists, the second annual monsters ball—a 21-and-over event—will multiple DJs to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds for a night music and curiosity. Event runs from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following morning. For tickets or information visit Eventbrite.
PVCCDC Fundraiser & Auction (Nov. 2)
The Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Club is hosting its annual dinner and auction fundraiser from 6-9 p.m. at the Watsonville Women’s Center. Lorena Gonzalez, assemblywoman for District 80 and the first Latina in state history to chair the Assembly Appropriations Committee, will be the special guest. For tickets or information visit Eventbrite.
Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival (Nov. 2)
The 11th annual Santa Cruz Sea Class & Ocean Art Festival returns to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Over 42 artists will bring their boutique works to the Cocoanut Grove Sunroom. You’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces, from ceramics, soaps, sea salts, photography, fabric arts and stunning sea glass jewelry. Admission is $5. For information visit the event’s Facebook page.
Capitola Plein Air Art Festival (Nov. 2)
The fifth annual Capitola Plein Air Art Festival is a free event with hands-on art-making for all visitors, live music and 40 local and regional artists selling their works and competing for the top prize. Dozens of professional artists will paint en plein air in varied mediums throughout Capitola. Locations include New Brighton Beach, Depot Hill, the Esplanade and the Jewel Box. For information visit capitolapleinair.com.
Aptos High Sports Gala (Nov. 2)
The Aptos Sports Foundation will celebrate the 50th anniversary Gala of Aptos High School from 5-10 p.m. at the Seascape Resort Ballroom. Tickets are $125. For information vista aptossportsfoundation.com.
Horizons-Santa Cruz Symphony (Nov. 3)
The Santa Cruz Symphony brings Horizons to Watsonville’s Henry J. Mello Center from 2-4:30 p.m. The program begins with Esa-Pekka Salonen’s mesmerizing Violin Concerto, performed by internationally acclaimed concertmaster Nigel Armstrong. In this concerto, commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the end of his tenure, Salonen tries to sum up everything that he has learned as the music director of the orchestra. It won the Grawemeyer award for composition in 2012. For info: santacruzsymphony.org.
American Cancer Society’s Santa Cruz Fashion Show (Nov. 3)
The American Cancer Society’s Garden of Hope Santa Cruz Fashion Show will be held at the beautiful Seascape Beach Resort on November 3. Festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. The Garden of Hope Fashion Show is one of the premier gala events held in Santa Cruz County. This year’s event is hosted by Chris Maffia and Heysa Janssen. For information contact Nancy Valdez at [email protected].
Keeping Watsonville Safe (Nov. 7)
Watsonville officials will host a town hall meeting from 6-7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 229 Stanford St., to discuss a renewal of the half-cent sales tax. City Manager Matt Huffaker, Watsonville Police Chief David Honda, Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy Lopez Sr. and Parks and Community Services Director Nick Calubaquib will also be a part of the presentation. For information: 768-3010.
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Recurring events
Saturday, Nov. 2
Aptos Farmer’s Market
Open rain or shine, the Aptos Farmer’s Market at Cabrillo College runs every Saturday from 8 a.m.
to noon.
Researchers Anonymous
History buffs are invited to join this free monthly meeting held the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. Details: 429-1964, ext. 17 or santacruzmah.org.
Sunday, Nov. 3
Farm and garden market
The Corralitos Farm and Garden Market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables and homemade baked goods prepared with organic and locally grown ingredients. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 127 Hames Road in Corralitos.
Wetlands Nature Center
Discover the wildlands on free exploration walks at 1:30 p.m. at the Wetlands Nature Center, 30 Harkins Slough Road, Watsonville, behind Ramsay Park. Binoculars provided. Rain cancels. Information: 768-1622 or wetlandsofwatsonville.org.
El Mercado Certified Farmer’s Market
This year-round Certified Farmer’s Market is held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 4
Karate at Watsonville PAL
Karate trains Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Watsonville Police Activities League, 130 Rodriguez St., Watsonville. Details: Coresta Angelo at 763-4146
Hamburger Night
The American Legion Post 121 invites all to its Hamburger Night from 5:30-7 p.m. at 214 Center St., Watsonville. Cost: $6. Proceeds benefit veterans and the post’s community activities.
Homework help at Youth Center
Need an extra hand at understanding your assignments? Can’t seem to figure out how to get the right answers? Have a group project due and don’t have a place to meet up? Approach one of our teammates at the Watsonville Youth Center Monday-Thursday from 4-5:30 p.m. and we’ll do what we can to help you get your homework done and get your grades up. Ages 6-22. Must be a registered member to participate. Registration and membership is free. For information: 768-3248.
NAACP
The Santa Cruz branch meets the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Education Building of Progressive Baptist Church, 519 Center St., Santa Cruz. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Self-Defense Program
This program at the Watsonville PAL gym on Rodriguez Street is designed to give the participants an hour and 15 minutes of self-defense instruction. Classes start a 4:45 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday Details: Coresta Angelo at 763-4146.
Bingo at Senior Center
The Watsonville Senior Center, 114 E. Fifth St., hosts bingo from 1-4 p.m. All proceeds benefit the center and its programs. Free coffee. Open to anyone 18 or older. In addition, the Senior Center holds a flea market starting at 9:30 a.m. Details: 722-1333.
Valley Heights
Free social hour every Tuesday and Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. is open to the public at 925 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville.
Legal assistance
California Rural Legal Assistance offers free legal services to low-income people. New clients on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesdays between the hours of 9:30-11:30 am and 1:3-4:00 p.m. at 21 Carr St. in Watsonville. We also have satellite offices in Hollister and Santa Cruz, call for intake hours at 724-2253.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
Watsonville Rotary
Rotary Club of Watsonville invites community members to its weekly luncheon meeting at the Elks Lodge, 121 Martinelli St., each Wednesday from 12:15-1:30 p.m. The program includes local community speakers that vary each week. For information: watsonvillerotary.com.
Lions Bingo
Join the Watsonville Associated Lions Club Bingo and support a nonprofit that gives back to the Pajaro Valley. Meets Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center, 2401 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
Bilingual toddler and baby lap time
Freedom Branch Library, 2021 Freedom Blvd., offers child socialization and early literacy skills for children ages 0-24 months at 10:30 a.m., and for ages 2-4 at 11:30 a.m. Details: 768-3420.
Watsonville Band
The Watsonville Community Band wants new members who can read music and competently play an instrument. Rehearsals at 7:30 p.m. in the Watsonville High School band room on Marchant Street. Information: band manager Bill Nestler at 768-8692 or watsonville-band.org.
Elks Lodge dinner
The Watsonville Elks Lodge, 121 Martinelli St., hosts dinners for members and guests. Lodge opens 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served 6:30 p.m. A full course dinner is included for $10 per person (special events may be higher). Contact the lodge for reservations at 724-2493. Reservations are a must.
Migrant assistance
The Community Information Center for Migrant Assistance/Centro Communitario de Información Migratoria at Trinity Lutheran Church, 175 Lawrence Ave., Watsonville offers immigration information and assistance from 6-8 p.m. Free. Information: 724-3461.
Evening Caregiver Support Group Santa Cruz
If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, a caregiver support group can offer you an opportunity to find out more about available community resources, learn from others who are going through similar experiences and obtain additional educational materials. The support group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 5:30-7 p.m. at 550 Water Street, Ste L2 in Santa Cruz, without a fee. Open to family members.
Thursday, Nov. 7
Bilingual toddler time
Bilingual Toddler Time is a free bilingual (English/Spanish) 30-minute program including stories, activities and music for toddlers and preschoolers. Starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Watsonville Public Library.
Friday, Nov. 8
Farmer’s Market
The Watsonville Certified Farmer’s Market takes place every Friday from 3-7 p.m. on Peck Street in the downtown Plaza. It offers organic and ethnic produce, flowers, live music and plenty of goodies to eat.
St. Francis bingo
Bingo meets every Friday evening at the Kennedy Center, 2401 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. Doors open at 5 p.m. Proceeds go to scholarships at St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School. Information: 722-2665 or 722-3274.
Senior dance
The Watsonville Senior Center hosts a free dance at 10:30 a.m. at 114 E. Fifth St.
STEAM in Watsonville Library
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) meets in the library from 3-4 p.m. For ages 8-12, the ongoing program allows participants to learn about and make electronic creations from Little Bits kits.
Bilingual baby lap time
A free bilingual (English/Spanish) 30-minute program including stories, activities and music for babies age 0-24 months. Starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Watsonville Library.
